Almost 3-1 opposition to stop and frisk by New York City black voters tips overall voter opinion
to a narrow 50 - 45 percent disapproval of the police practice, according to a Quinnipiac
University poll released today.

A decrease in police use of stop and frisk would not lead to an increase in gun violence,
voters say 50 - 41 percent, again with significant racial division. Black voters say 63 - 28
percent the reductions would not lead to more crime. White voters believe it would 49 - 39
percent and Hispanic voters agree 52 - 46 percent.

"Public opinion is just about down-the-middle on the police tactic of stop and frisk. If
the decline in such stops persists, will gun violence grow? On this question, too, New Yorkers
are divided" said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"But we're still a liberal city. If there's a choice between taking all steps to end crime
and protecting civil liberties, New Yorkers come down 78 - 16 percent on the civil liberties side.

"Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and his cops continue to get high marks."

New York City voters support 73 - 20 percent a law requiring businesses in the city to
provide employees up to nine paid sick days per year. Support is strong among all groups except
Republicans, who oppose the measure 48 - 42 percent.

Voters say 54 - 37 percent that such a law would not result in businesses hiring fewer
people. Again, only Republicans have that concern, 64 - 29 percent.

Alcohol, Soft Drinks, Baby Formula

A New York City crackdown on alcohol abuse would be a good idea, voters say 56 - 17
percent. Support is 62 - 16 percent among parents of children under 18, 61 - 13 percent among
women and 63 - 14 percent among blacks. Support is strong in every borough except Staten
Island, where support is 40 - 35 percent with 25 percent undecided.

Voters oppose 54 - 42 percent Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan to limit the size of
sugary soft drinks. This compares to 51 - 46 percent opposition in a June 13 Quinnipiac
University poll. While most groups strongly oppose the limit, Democrats are divided 48 - 49
percent and women are divided with 46 percent in support and 49 percent opposed. Attitudes by
borough range from 49 - 48 percent in Manhattan to a negative 23 - 74 percent in Staten Island.

By an even larger 56 - 24 percent margin, voters oppose another Bloomberg initiative to
encourage breast-feeding by making baby formula less available to new mothers. Women
oppose this measure 60 - 23 percent while men oppose it 53 - 24 percent.

Voters say 74 - 19 percent that the city's bike rental program is a good idea.

Voters approve 50 - 38 percent Bloomberg's handling of public health. They are divided
47 - 49 percent on whether government should get involved in eating/drinking habits to fight
obesity. But they say 48 - 38 percent that these measures are not "nanny government."

"Voters disagree with Mayor Michael Bloomberg's push to increase breast-feeding and
to limit the size of sugary drinks, but they like the idea of cracking down on alcohol abuse,"
Carroll said. "Overall, New Yorkers give Hizzoner good grades on public-health as they reject
the criticism that it's 'nanny government.'"

From August 8 - 12, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,298 New York City voters with a
margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia
and the nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow
us on Twitter.

4. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Ray Kelly is handling his job as
Police Commissioner?

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Michael Bloomberg is handling public health
issues in New York City?

Aug 16 Jun 13
2012 2012
Approve 50 47
Disapprove 38 45
DK/NA 12 8

20. As you may know, Mayor Bloomberg has a plan to ban large servings of soda and sugary
drinks in an effort to help fight obesity in New York City. Bloomberg's proposal would
prohibit the sale of soda and other sweetened drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces
that are sold in places regulated by the city's health department like restaurants, movies
theaters, and food carts. Do you support or oppose Bloomberg's plan?

TREND: As you may know, Mayor Bloomberg has a plan to ban large servings of soda and
sugary drinks in an effort to help fight obesity in New York City. Bloomberg's proposal
would prohibit the sale of soda and other sweetened drinks in containers larger than
16 ounces that are sold in places regulated by the city's health department like
restaurants, movies theaters, and food carts. Do you support or oppose Bloomberg's plan?

Aug 16 Jun 13
2012 2012
Support 42 46
Oppose 54 51
DK/NA 3 4

21. Do you think the government should be getting involved in people's eating and drinking
habits to fight obesity, or do you think the government shouldn't be getting involved in
these things?

TREND: Do you think New York City should pressure building owners to ban all indoor
smoking or don't you think so?

Aug 16 May 11
2012 2012
Yes 48 44
No 47 53
DK/NA 5 3

26. As you may know, the Bloomberg administration has a new health initiative which
promotes breastfeeding by making baby formula less available to new mothers while they are
in the hospital. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea, or don't you have
an opinion on that?

29. As you may know, there is a police practice known as stop and frisk, where police stop
and question a person they suspect of wrongdoing and, if necessary, search that person. Do
you approve or disapprove of this police practice?

TREND: As you may know, there is a police practice known as stop and frisk, where police
stop and question a person they suspect of wrongdoing and, if necessary, search that
person. Do you approve or disapprove of this police practice?

31. Which comes closer to your view;
A)The police should take all steps necessary to prevent crime in New York City even if it
means your basic civil liberties would be violated, or
B)The police should take steps to prevent crime but not if those would violate your basic
civil liberties?